TY - JOUR T1 - <em>In vivo</em> siRNA delivery of <em>Keap1</em> modulates death and survival signaling pathways and attenuates concanavalin-A-induced acute liver injury in mice JF - Disease Models &amp; Mechanisms JO - Dis Models Mech SP - 1093 LP - 1100 DO - 10.1242/dmm.015537 VL - 7 IS - 9 AU - González-Rodríguez, Águeda AU - Reibert, Bjorn AU - Amann, Thomas AU - Constien, Rainier AU - Rondinone, Cristina M. AU - Valverde, Ángela M. Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://dmm.biologists.org/content/7/9/1093.abstract N2 - Oxidative stress contributes to the progression of acute liver failure (ALF). Transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) serves as an endogenous regulator by which cells combat oxidative stress. We have investigated liver damage and the balance between death and survival signaling pathways in concanavalin A (ConA)-mediated ALF using in vivo siRNA delivery targeting Keap1 in hepatocytes. For that goal, mice were injected with Keap1- or luciferase-siRNA-containing liposomes via the tail vein. After 48 hours, ALF was induced by ConA. Liver histology, pro-inflammatory mediators, antioxidant responses, cellular death, and stress and survival signaling were assessed. Keap1 mRNA and protein levels significantly decreased in livers of Keap1-siRNA-injected mice. In these animals, histological liver damage was less evident than in control mice when challenged with ConA. Likewise, markers of cellular death (FasL and caspases 8, 3 and 1) decreased at 4 and 8 hours post-injection. Nuclear Nrf2 and its target, hemoxygenase 1 (HO1), were elevated in Keap1-siRNA-injected mice compared with control animals, resulting in reduced oxidative stress in the liver. Similarly, mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were reduced in livers from Keap1-siRNA-injected mice. At the molecular level, activation of c-jun (NH2) terminal kinase (JNK) was ameliorated, whereas the insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGFIR) survival pathway was maintained upon ConA injection in Keap1-siRNA-treated mice. In conclusion, our results have revealed a potential therapeutic use of in vivo siRNA technology targeted to Keap1 to combat oxidative stress by modulating Nrf2-mediated antioxidant responses and IGFIR survival signaling during the progression of ALF. ER -